Fire breaks out in Ukiah creek bed

The Ukiah Valley Fire Authority responded to a fire in Gibson Creek near the Orchard Plaza Shopping Center Wednesday morning.

The fire was reported around 8:20 a.m. July 16 and was located in the creek bed just east of the large culvert underneath South Orchard Avenue that homeless residents often occupy.

UVFA Capt. Jeff Adair said the fire was originally reported as a debris fire, but he found no evidence of a "rubbish pile, just vegetation burning."

Adair said the official cause is undetermined, but it could have been a warming fire. He said it was not likely caused by a tossed cigarette, since "the humidity was too high" for that Wednesday morning.

A large amount of human waste and trash was recently cleaned out of the culvert, and another area, part of Orr Creek along Ford Street, was cleaned up last month.

A nearby resident recently reportedly that the area cleaned up in Orr Creek is already full of mattresses and trash again